Selling used pet accessories, clothing, and beds in Colombia: measurements, photos, and what you must declare

A dog bed that has been by the window for a year already has its own history: the flattened edge, a seam that gave way, perhaps a smell that washing didn't completely remove. That is exactly what the buyer wants to know before writing to you, and if your ad doesn't state it, they will ask you three times or simply leave. This guide is only about objects: beds, clothing, harnesses, collars, leashes, scratching posts, and used crates. If your thing is dog walking, daycare, or pet sitting, that is still in our guide to pet supplies and care.

A fact to set the scene: on October 3, 2026, the Pet Accessories and Other Pets categories on Colombia Move showed 0 ads, while the Pets section had 3 active ones, all of animals and all in Medellín. That inventory changes, but today anyone looking for a used bed almost doesn't find anyone to compare with. For you, that is free space.

What fits in this ad and what doesn't

The bed, clothing, harness, collar, leash, scratching post, and crate go in. The animal itself is excluded (Law 1774 of 2016, article 1, says that animals, as sentient beings, are not things and receive special protection against suffering and pain), as well as bulk food and any medication or product with a therapeutic effect. And if you are looking to advertise yourself as a dog walker, that is not posted as if it were a bed; there is a separate guide for offering that service.

The file: measurements that prevent returns

I would skip adjectives like "large" or "size M": each brand understands something different. Write numbers, in centimeters, and leave the label size only as a reference if it can be read on the piece.

• Bed or scratching post: length, width, and height; if the cover is removable; stuffing material.
• Clothing and harness: chest contour, back length, and, if applicable, neck contour; species (dog or cat).
• Collar and leash: total length and width; type of buckle or closure.
• Crate: length, width, interior height, and if the door closes well.
• Real condition: stains, smell, bites, damaged zippers, embedded hair. Say it all.
• Delivery: if the buyer picks it up or if you coordinate shipping.

The brand only goes if it is readable on the piece; don't guess it. And regarding the price, honestly: there is no one-size-fits-all rate. Compare pieces of the same type and with the same wear, and lower what you ask for if there is a smell, bite, or a damaged zipper.

Photos that save messages

No catalog photo copied from a store: the buyer of used goods wants to see your piece. With natural window light and a tape measure in the same frame, you answer half the questions.

• A general photo of the full piece, open and on the floor.
• The tape measure crossing the width or length, clearly legible.
• Close-up of the zipper, the seam, and the base of the bed.
• The buckle of the harness or the closure of the collar, up close.
• The inside of the crate, without hiding scratches.
• The defect, if any: the stain or the bite is photographed, not covered up.

Visible wear doesn't scare people off; surprises do. A buyer who sees the bite in the photo and pays anyway won't complain later.

Hygiene: say it honestly, without promising too much

The reasonable thing is to wash according to the label, dry completely, and write in the ad what remained: "washed, sun-dried, slight odor remains" is better than "like new". Caution: this is an advertising practice, not an official disinfection protocol. Washing and drying does not authorize you to promise that fleas, fungi, or diseases have disappeared. If you cannot guarantee it, don't write it.

What the law says: warranty and hidden defects

Here is a distinction that many people confuse. Law 1480 of 2011 places the legal warranty (articles 7 and 8) on the producer or supplier. A supplier or retailer, according to article 5, numeral 11, is whoever habitually offers, supplies, distributes, or commercializes products, with or without profit motive. If that supplier sells a used item whose warranty has already expired and does not inform nor obtain written acceptance that it is sold without a warranty, it is understood to have a three-month warranty. Furthermore, public offers of used products must indicate that condition in a precise and noticeable way; there is no stamp or template I can invent for you, so write "used" clearly visible in the title and the text.

If you resell harnesses or beds frequently, do not treat yourself as an occasional individual: you probably fit the definition of a supplier. An occasional sale between two people, on the other hand, is not described in that definition. To expand on the topic, look at the guide on legal warranty for used products.

Even being occasional, the Civil Code catches up with you due to hidden defects. The buyer may request rescission or a proportional reduction in price if the defect existed at the time of the sale, makes the thing useless or poorly suited for its natural use, was not stated, and could have been ignored without gross negligence (articles 1914, 1915, and 1917). Even if you agree that you are not responsible for hidden defects, you are still obligated to remedy those you knew about and did not notify (article 1916), and you may owe damages (article 1918). The redhibitory action lasts six months for movable property, counted from the actual delivery (article 1923). Translated: declare every defect you know about and that's it. This is general consultation, not personalized legal advice.

And what about the ICA?

The ICA registration described by Resolution 1578 of 2022 was for those who produce, semi-process, or import veterinary products, disinfectants, ectoparasiticides, and animal hygiene or beauty products. Reselling a used bed or collar occasionally is not that activity. However, that regulation is changing and I cannot confirm what date is in effect today. If you manufacture or import shampoo, pipettes, or food, consult the current procedure at ica.gov.co; this guide does not explain it.

Post and deliver without headaches

The natural place is the Pet Accessoriescategory. If your item doesn't fit as an accessory, for example, a fish tank, look at Other Pets. And if you are looking for the full landscape, there is the Pets section.

For delivery, the sensible thing: show the item in person, collect upon delivery or with a method you know how to use well, and do not ship the piece to a stranger before confirming the payment. If it is a large crate and someone is going to travel with their pet, this reading on traveling with pets will be useful to them.

Frequently asked questions

❓ If I sell a used bed between individuals, do I have to give a three-month warranty?

Not for an occasional sale: three months is the rule for a habitual supplier who does not provide a written record of a sale without a warranty. Between private individuals, disclose all known defects, because the Civil Code provides for hidden defects and the action period lasts six months from delivery (verify with the official source).

❓ What happens if I resell harnesses or beds on a regular basis?

At that point, you fit the definition of a supplier, even if you are not doing it for profit. If you do not leave a written record that the used item is being sold without a warranty and the original warranty has expired, the law understands it to have a three-month warranty, according to Article 8 of Law 1480 (verify with the official source).

❓ Do I need ICA registration to list a used collar or bed?

Not for occasional resale: that does not constitute producing or importing a veterinary or animal hygiene product. If you manufacture or import those products, review the current procedure with the ICA, as the registration standard is subject to change and we do not set a date here (verify with the official source).

❓ What measurements and photos prevent clothes or a bed from being returned?

Length, width, height and, if it is clothing or a harness, chest or neck circumference, all in centimeters. Place the measuring tape in the photo and leave wear and tear visible, including stains or bite marks; this way the buyer decides based on real information.

❓ How much should I ask for a used bed or harness?

There is no single rate. Compare items of the same type and similar wear, and lower the price if there is an odor, bite marks, or a damaged zipper. A price consistent with the condition attracts those who will actually buy and filters out the curious (verify with the official source if you have doubts about sales obligations).

❓ Can I say it is disinfected and like new?

Only if it is true. Declare stains and odors; washing according to the label and drying completely does not allow you to promise that parasites, fungi, or diseases have disappeared. It is better to write "washed and dried, with a faint odor" than a promise you cannot support.

❓ How do I sell safely and avoid scams?

Show the item in person and collect cash on delivery, or use a payment method you know how to use. Do not send the item to a stranger before confirming that the money has already arrived, and be wary of anyone who asks you for advances or codes (verify with the official source).